February 22, 2024

Asked & Answered

Heart and names carvings in Der Rathskeller wooden table

L&S Love Stories

The ranks of L&S faculty include a handful of married couples. These professors have found a way to successfully marry their personal and professional lives. Meet four of these couples, find out how they met and hear what strategies they employ — like no work talk on the commute! —to keep a healthy work-life balance. Read More

Black History Month

10 Years of Student-Led Celebrations

In 2014, UW’s African American Student Academic Services initiated a student-led Black History Month Planning Committee, beginning a new era of coordinated, campus-wide programming. To honor the 10th anniversary, three student journalists interviewed many of the people who helped establish this tradition. The following oral history captures some of their experiences, memories, joys and challenges. Read More

From the Magazine

Illustration of Adam and Eve being tempted by 1s and 0s data

Investigating the Ethics of AI

L&S researchers are wrangling with the thorny ethical issues raised by artificial intelligence and computing. From the attention economy and Big Data to democratizing the deployment of AI technology, researchers from the Department of Philosophy, the Information School and the Department of Computer Sciences are teaming up to evaluate our future with this technology.

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This story appeared in Letters & Science magazine.

Building Update

A New Visitor Center for Picnic Point

A generous gift from Department of Economics alumnus Jerry Frautschi (’56) will help transform the Lakeshore Nature Preserve and Picnic Point with a new visitor and education center. The center will showcase UW–Madison’s commitment to sustainability and support hands-on experiential learning and research for more than 25 academic programs, in addition to serving as a new asset for environmental education in the community. Read More

Check This Out

An Evening of Storytelling

For more than 25 years, the American Indian & Indigenous Studies program has presented "An Evening of Storytelling." At the event, indigenous storytellers share stories in their language followed by an English translation. We sat down with member of the Menominee Tribe of Wisconsin Joey Awonohopay to talk about the importance of sharing these traditions.

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Ask a Prof

A Step Forward for the Grammys?

According to Langston Collin Wilkins, an assistant professor of African American studies, the 2024 Grammys represented progress. Several major musical milestones took place at the 66th Grammy Awards — especially for Black artists. Pop and R&B artist SZA scored nine nominations. Tracy Chapman and Burna Boy wowed the crowd with viral-worthy performances, and Jay-Z received the Dr. Dre Global Impact Award. Read More

Madison Moment

Inflatable replica of Lady Liberty head placed in Library Mall, Madison, WI

Photo by: Jeff Miller / UW–Madison

Unseasonably warm weather that melted most of Madison’s snow couldn’t stop the UW–Madison Winter Carnival. The Statue of Liberty head — typically placed on Lake Mendota’s ice — was moved to Library Mall, where carnival goers snapped pictures. The Lady Liberty tradition began with a prank in 1979 by the Pail and Shovel Party, which made a campaign promise that, if elected to the Wisconsin Student Association, they would bring the Statue of Liberty to Madison. See More Photos

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